Sandy Schreier is known for her collection of couture fashion that numbers over 15,000 items. The story goes that when she was a child growing up in Detroit her father worked in the fur department of a high end department store. Often he took his daughter to work where she made friends with the lady customers. Before long these wealthy ladies were gifting some of their used couture gowns and everyday wear to Ms. Schreier to play dress up. Well, even then she knew she was on to something and didn’t play with the clothing but instead kept it all safe, eventually storing everything she was given a spare room of the family home.
She continued collecting, later putting an ad in the paper looking for donations. Her collection is just that, a collection not a wardrobe. She says she considers the pieces like artwork and has never worn them.
Her collection includes pieces by Balenciaga, Schiaparelli, Chanel, Alexander McQueen, Adrian … all the biggies past and present.
In 2019 Pursuit of Fashion: The Sandy Schreier Collection at The Metropolitan Museum Costume Institute displayed 80 of the 165 pieces, which Ms. Schreier has promised to donate to the institute.
OverDressed for Life 
Je prefer WEARABLE ART. I have made & collected
“Couture”..meaning what ? Things that reflect moi?
Oui? The name of who made the item- is not as important Than the reality that it FITS WHO I AM.
I AM MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE CLOTHES OR ACCESSORIES. BUT this is my own personal definition. No one is obliged to accept it. Voila- all of us free to self- chose? YES.
Merci,
Jacquelyn Goudeau
Thank you as always for your comment, Jacquelyn.